Cutting machine



Sept. 22, 1931. w. MAIER CUTTING MACHINE Filed July 3, 1924 '7Sheets-Sheet l HHWQR, Ww oww wh Ww N www 21 @$41. L 1 NNW, MU ,C $W:mHIN.

Sept. 22, 1931. w. MAIER 1,824,163

CUTTING MACHINE Filed July 3, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,f4/Miam Man/j W.MAIER sept. 22, 1931 CUTTING MACHIN E Filed July 5, 1924 7 Sheets-5h88?l3 Sept. 22, 1931. w MAIER 1,824,163

CUTTING MACHINE Filed July 3, 1924 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jl I c-Jl 212 213212 212 13 212 55% a Roz n 9,11

Sept. 22, 1931. w MAlER 1,824,163

CUTTING MACHINE Filed July 3, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 A '16 .1.74 JJ? yas) 1j Sept. 22, 1931. w, MAlER 1,824,163

CUTTING MACHIN E Filed July 5, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 gwomoz 2,

Sept. 22, 1931. l w. MAIER CUTTING MACHINE Filed July 3, 1924 7Sheets-Sheet '7 Patented Sept. 2,2, 1931 PATENT owner.v

WILLIAM MAIER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI CUTTING Application led July 3,

This invention relates to cutting machines adapted to successively cutoif portions from lengths of stock fed thereto, and pertains moreparticularly to that form of machine disclosed in this inventors UnitedStates Patents Number 1,318,892, issued October 14,

1919, and 1,662,387, issued Harch 12, 1928.

The present application is the parent application from which was dividedapplication Serial 139,397, filed October 4, 1926, that issued as Patent1,7 90,937 on February This machine is adapted to cut any kind ofmaterial, such as metal, cloth, or paper, and

is especially useful for cutting strawboard, pasteboard, plasterboard,container board, fiber board, chip board, corrugated paper, double-facedpaper, paper tubes, felt, veneer, and the like.

In this machine, the length of the severed portions is determined by thefrequency of the cutting operation relatively to the rate at which thestock is fed into the machine. Hitherto the stock has been fed to themachine through timing rolls, which operate through a train of gears toactuate the mechanism which governs the operation of the cuttingmechanism, the frequency of the cutting operation being determined bythe particular arrangement and relative sizes of the gears comprisingthe train, which may be' changed to obtain a considerable number ofpermutations. This change-gear method of controlling the length of thesevered portions of stock is necessarily inflexible, only a certainlimited number of sizes of severed pieces being obtainable, according tothe number of gears employed. Furthermore, considerable skill must beexercised to prop- 0 erly select and arrange the gears to producedifferent sizes of pieces, and, the greater the number of permutationsobtainable, theY greater necessarily is the number of gears employed,and the more complicated becomes the task of arranging them.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a timingmechanism by means of which an infinite number of different sizes ofsevered pieces may be obtained within the range of the machine.

MACHINE 1924. Serial No. 728,933.

Another object is to provide a timing mechanism which may be set for adesired size within a minimum of time by any attendant possessing nomore than ordinary skill.

Another object is to provide means Whereby the size of the pieces whichthe machine will produce for acertain adjustment or setting of the timeris indicated automatically thereon, rendering unnecessary anycalculations or measurements on the part of the at- 60 tendant.

Another object is to provide a brake which will counteract the momentumof the cutters just prior to the time of their stoppage, thus relievingthe clutch which controls the starting and stopping of the cutters fromundue wear and strain.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the followingdescription.

lVhile the invention includes the combined instrumentalities foraccomplishing the aforesaid objects, it is believed that the said meansare not only combinatively novel, but that certain of the devices goingto make up such means are new in less combinations than the whole, andsome capable of individual use, as will more clearly 'hereinafterappear.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, inwhich like numbers of reference denote like parts wherever they occur,

Figure l is a perspective view of the com'- plete machine;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary and partly sectional plan view depicting in acomprehensive manner the co-operation of the various elements comprisingthe present invention;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation showing the side of the machine notvisible in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view, partly in section, ofthe clutch mechanism;

Figure 5 is a fragmental proximately vertical central sectional view ofthe same;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail `plan view of the timer and associatedparts;

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the same; l

Figure 8 is a detail view of the indicating pair of timer tractionrollers and the sup porting frame therefor;

Figure 11 is a detail elevational view lof the timer actuating rollerand its support;

Figure 12 is a detail elevational view of the timer shaft bearingbracket;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary enlargement view taken -on the line 13-13.ofFigure 2, showing the brake, conveyor drive, and portions of the clutchcontrolling mechanism.

Figure 14 is a transverse sectional view through they delivery end ofthe conveyor, showing the manner of supporting the conveyor table;

.Figure 15 is a similar view through the receiving end of the conveyor;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of an alternative form of timer; and

Figure 17 is a diagrammatic view showing the same in another position.

The cutting mechanism, the driving means therefor, and the clutchtransmitting power from the driving means to the cutting mechanism wereembraced in the aforesaid Pat f ents, 1,318,892 and 1,662,387, and willnow which disc 24 is located within an opening be briefly described. Thebed 1 and the up rights or standards 2, 3, and 4 secured theretoconstitute the framework supporting the said clutch and the cutting andthe driving means. The standards 2 and 3 are provided with bearings 5and 6 respectively, and standard 4, also, has a bearing (partly shown)wherein revolves drive shaft 7 having tight and loose pulleys 8 and 9and spur pinion 10, which is keyed in fixed relation thereto. Spurpinion 10 drives spur gear 11, looselyl mounted unattached on shaft 12,journaled in bearings 13, 14, and 15 in standards 2, 3, and 4respectively.

A ring 16 is fastened by screws 17 to gear 11, best shown in Figures 4and 5. Rollers 18, located in notches 19 and between legs 20 in cage 21,are adapted to roll on the inclined edges 22 of the notches 23 in disc24,

through roller cage 21, ada ted to hold the rollers 1.8 in notches 19.tension spring 25 is attached by spring-post 26 to the cage 21, and byspring-post 27 to the clutch-disc 28. Clutch-disc 28 is fixed by akey29tosleeve 30, running loose unattached on shaft 12. Notched disc 24is, also, internally threaded to fit the external thread 31 of sleeve30. An eccentric gear 32 is sweated on the sleeve 30 at 33. A lever 34pivoted at 35 normally has its end 36 in enga ement with shoulder 37 ofroller cagev 21. isengagement of the end 36 of lever 34from shoulder 37of cage 21 is accomplished by means forming part ofthe presentinvention, to be hereinafter described. Such disengagement releases cage21, causing it to revolve under the tension of spring 25 in suchdirection that the rollers 18 travel each one up its adjacent incline 22on the peripheral edge of disc 24 with the resultthat each roller isthus forced into contact with the inner periphery of ring 16, therebyproducing a wedging effect that causes disc 24, ring 16 and roller cage21 to travel as one, thereby rotating notched disc 24. On account ofsleeve 30 and disc 24 being threaded left-handed, said disc 24 isscrewed towards disc 28 until face 38 of disc 24 contacts with face 39of disc 28. This action causes disc 28 and consequently sleeve 30 andeccentric gear 32 to rotate. When roller cage 21 has completed onerevolution, it is brought to rest by the engagement of shoulder 37 withthe end 36 of lever 34, brought into position against cage 21 by meanshereinafter to be described. The consequent relative movement betweennotched disc 24 and rollers 18 through the intervention of roller cage21 results in the rollers 18 moving down their respective inclines 22against the upturned ends 40 of inclines 22 of notched disc 24, wherebysaid disc 24 is screwed away from disc 28, thereby releasing thev clutchthrough the disengagement of faces 38 and 39 of discs 24 and 28,respectively.

Eccentric gear 32 drives eccentric gear 41, keyed to shaft 42, journaledin bearings in standards 2 and 3. Gear 43, fixed on the other end ofshaft 42, drives gear 44, which in turn drives gear 45. Gears 44 and 45drive cutter rolls 47 and 48, bearing cooperating helical knives 49 and50 respectively.

By virtue of the eccentric gears 32 and 41,

knives 49 and 50 rotate fastest when cutting, and slower the rest of thetime. A continuously acting brake 51 prevents back lash between theseveral gears and steadies the motion of the knives 49 and 50.

The pasting or double-face paper machine or receptacle containing asupply of material to be cut or stock of such material in any form, isnot shown in the drawings, but it is to be understood that the saidmachine will be boltedto the rear or feed end of thc machine depicted inFigure 1, or that end which is the far end and hidden from the ou serveras viewed in Figure 1. The said machine feeds the stock intov thecutting rolls 47 and 48, at a speed equal to the peripheral speed of thecutting knives 49 and 50 at the time of their cutting the stock; and thesevthe rolls 47 and 48, but must be fed 'at a compensating angle to theperpendicular in order to make a square cut, and the table 53 and belts52 are', therefore, arranged slightly slanting relatively to t-he bed 1and its associated standards 2 and 3, as best shown in Figure 2.

Blocks 54 and 55, secured to standards 2 and 3, present sleeves 56, inwhich are fixed the far ends of rods 57, arranged parallel to and oneither side of the table 5 3. The near or front ends of rods 57 arefixed in blocks 58 and 59, respectively, bolted or secured in any commonmanner to standards 60, secured oppositely to one another by tie rods61. Brackets 62 are arranged just behind blocks 58 and 59; and comprisesleeves 63, whereby they are fixed to rods 57, and inwardly projectinghorizontal arms 64, connected by a channel bar 65, supported thereon andsecured thereto by suitable bolts 66, as best shown in Figure 14.Brackets 67 project horizontally from the inner sides of standards 2 and3, from points behind the blocks 54 and 55, (see Figure 15) and havethreaded stems 68, which extend through holes in standards 2 and 3 andare clamped thereto by nuts 69. Arranged alon each side of the table 53are channel beams 0, the rear ends of which are supported on and boltedat 71 to the brackets 67, and the front ends of which are supportedonand bolted at 72 to the beam 65. Beams are reinforced by trusses 73,passing under transverse beams 74, bolted to the underside of beams 70and connecting them intermediately. Table 53, preferably of wood, issupported on and bolted to the transverse beams 65, 74, and 74.

rlransverse bearings 75 are formed in blocks 54 and 55 under sleeves 56,and have j ournaled therein revoluble shaft 76, to which are fixedsprocket wheel 77 and pulleys 78, driving conveyor belts 52. At thefront end of the conveyor, the belts 52 pass around pulleys 79, fixed torevoluble shaft 80, journaled in bearings 81 in blocks 58 and 59 underrods 57. Sprocket wheel 77 is driven, through the intermediacy ofsprocket chain 82, by sprocket wheel 83, fixed to countershaft 84,journaled in block 85, bolted to bed 1. (See Figure 13.) Shaft 84 hasfixed thereto gear 86, meshing with gear 87, fixed to main drive shaft7, whereby conveyor belts 52 are continuously driven through theintervention of the gearing just described.

The timing mechanism will now be described. An upright frame 88 at thefar side of the machine, as viewed in Figure 1, and another uprightframe 89 at the near side thereof, have pairs of horizontal sleeves 90,fitting slidably on the rods.57. The frames 88 and 89 are connectedtogether at their upper corners `tie rods 91, secured by screws 92passing through the respective frames and threading into the ends of therods 91. The sleeves are connected together at their lower ends byintegral bridging portions 93, containing intermediately the bearings94, in which is journaled the shaft 95. under sides the toothed racks96, meshing with pinions 97, fixed to the shaft 95 adjacent the bearings94 of the respective frames 88 and 89. Shaft 95 projects outwardlybeyond the frame 89, and has fixed to its proj ecting end a hand wheel98. When the hand wheel 98 is turned, pinions 97 turn, also, and, byreason of their engagement with the stationary racks 96, cause frames88'and 89 to move in unison along the rods 57 Lugs 99 project from theunder side of sleeves 90, and are apertured for the reception of thescrews 100, which thread into the ends of tie rods 101, which connectthe lower portions of the frames 88 and 89. Frames 88 and 89, and rods91 and 101 and their associated parts constitute the timer carriage.Adjacent one of the sleeves 90 of frame 89 is a split clamping sleeve102 on the rod 57. Lugs 103 project from the opposing split ends of thering, and may be drawn together and the sleeve tightened on the rod 57by turning handle 104, the stem of which is reduced in diameter at ashoulder 105, abutting against outer lug 103, and the reduced portion ofwhich stem 9 is threaded into the inner lug 103. A strap 106 is securedby screws 107 and 108 to the inner sides of the sleeve 102 and itsadjacent sleeve 90, respectively, whereby the sleeve 102 and frame 89function as a single unit, their construction as two separate partsfacilitating their manufacture. i

A shaft 109 is journaled midway between and parallel to rods 91 inbearings 110, in the upper end of `frames 88 and 89. A depending frame111 is fixed to shaft 109 by set screw 112, the lower end of said framebeing forked into a row of dependingarms 113, which have alined holes114, in which is fixed cylindrical rod' 115. Rollers 116 are adapted toturn freely on rods 115 between the arms 113. Rollers 116 are preferablyformed hollow to reduce their weight. Rollers 116 swing in a recess orgroove 117 in the table 53 between the two innermost belts 52. The

' backward swing of frame 111 is limited to a slight movement from thevertical by a set screw 118, held in a depending arm 119 of a bar 1 20,which passes over and partly around rods 91. Check nuts 121 retain screw118 in place. Bar 120 is securedin place on the Rods 57 have secured totheir rods 91 by means of a clamping bar 122,

which passes under rods 91 and over shaft 109, being ldrawn against rods91 by bolts 123, passing through bars 120 and 122, as shown in Figure11. Adjacent bar 120 on the rods 91 is a bracket 124, having anintermediate bearing 125 for the shaft 109. Rods 91 fit in grooves 126in the underside of bracket 124, and are clamped thereto by caps orstraps 127, caused to bear against the underside of rods 91 by screws128, passing through caps 127 and threading into bracket 124.

A Brackets 129, best shown in Figure 10, are borne by the rods 91directly over preferably the two innermost of the belts 52, beingclamped to rods 91 in a mannersimilar to that in which bracket 124 issecured thereto, by means of caps 130 clamped by screws 131 against rods91 in grooves 132. Bracket 129 projects some distance forward beyondfront rod 91, and some distance to the rear of rear rod 91, the saidprojecting ends being bifurcated to straddle the sides of arms 130,pivoted thereto at 131, and slanting forwardly and downwardly, the lowerends of said arms being bifurcated to stradde rollers 132, turning onpins 133 passing through and iXed in the said bifurcated ends. Rollers132 bear on the belts 52 and on the severed stock pieces 134 carriedthereon, producing suflicient friction between the stock and the beltsto insure that the stock will continue to move forward with the beltsduring its engagement with the roll 116, which roll and frame 111 isswung forward and upward when engaged by the front end of the stock 134`shown in dotted lines in Figure 11.

The shaft 109 projects through the bearing 110, in frame 89; and thesaid projecting portion has Xed thereto a collar 135, which collar andshaft are slotted transversely through their coinciding end faces toreceive a. blade 136, which is preferably held therein in any commonmanner, but preferably by a drive fit. Blade 136 is in angular alinementabout shaft 109 with frame 111, the blade 136 being vertical when frame111 hangs in its normal vertical position. When the stock 134 has swungroller 116 to its eX- treme forward position, blade 136 will have beenrotated counter clockwise as shown in dotted lines in Figure 9, and whenthe stock portion has passed beyond roller 116, the said roller drops bygravity and is carried by its momentum beyond the vertical in theopposite direction, until frame 111 abuts against screw 118,blade136'being rotated clockwise' therewith as shown inbroken-and-dotted lines. A collar 137 fixed on shaft 109 behind boss110, has a. flattened top in its periphery against which rests bladespring 138, secured to one of the rods 91; Pressure of blade spring 138on the flat portion of the collar periphery tends to retain collar 137,and with it the shaft 109 and its associated parts, in a predeterminedposition against rotation, so that frame 111 and blade 136 are quicklybrought to rest in a vertical position without performing a series ofoscillations after having been actuated.

A slide 139 is adapted to reciprocate horizontally undefr blade 136 ingrooves 140, formed in the inner side of caps 141, secured under screws92 to the frame 89 by screws 142. A block 143, integral with slide 139,projects laterally from the upper portion thereof to the right of theblade 136. The right end of block 143 is recessed as at 144, for thereception of one end of a compression spring 145, the other end of whichbears in a recess 146 in the left end of right-hand cap 141. A pin 147,projecting laterally from slide 139, limits the movement of slide 139toward the left under the impulsion of spring 145 upon reaching itsabutting positioln against the right end of left-hand cap 14 149,threaded laterally into the lower portion of the slide 139 immediatelyto the right of the blad-e 136. Pawl 148 has an upwardly projecting beak149, which is engaged by the blade 136; and a vdownwardly slanting arm150, the preponderat-ing weightofwhich ur es pawl 148 to clock-wiserotation, limited y the abutment of pawl projection 151 against lug 143.When blade 136 is rotated counterclockwise from the vertical positionindicated in full lines to the dotted-line position, pawl 148 and slide139 move as one toward the right until the lower end of blade 136reaches a point in the inclined arcuate path it describes where itascends out of en agement with the beak 149 of pawl 148, w ere uponslide 139 returns to its initial position under the impulsion of spring145. When the stock 134 has passed beyond the roller 116, roller 116 andconsequently blade 136 are rotated clockwise to thebroken-anddotted-line positions, the lower end of blade 136 strikingagainst beak 149 and rotating pawl 148 counter-clcckwise'until beak 149and blade 136 move out of mutual engagement, when pawl 148 is releasedand returns to its initial position under the influence of the weight150.

Sleeves of frame 89 develop laterally toward the outside of the machineinto bearings 152, alined parallel to sleeves 90. A

bearing 153 is similarly formed on block 54- and a bearing 154 on ock58, which bearings are alined with bearings 152. A shaft l155 isjournaled in the bearings 152, 152, 153,

and 154; and the said shaft has a keyway 156 in its upper sideextendingfrom bearing 153 to bearing 154. An upwardly extending rocker arm 157 isslidably mounted on shaft 155 through its yhub 158 between the bearings152, the hub 158 having fixed therein a feather-key 159, which isslidable in keyway 156. The upper end of arm 157 bears on its inner sidea rollei` 160,' which is normally urged toward the slide 139 by means tobeV hereinafter described, but is restrained therefrom, when the slideis in its normal position, by a detent 161, projecting laterally fromthe slide towards the roller 160. When the slide 139 is moved toward theright by the means hereinbefore described, lug 161 clears roller 160,permitting arm 157 to rock A pawl 148 is pivoted about a stud' iso ' theother end of which is pivoted to an arm 164 of a bell-crank 165 lug 167integral with rame 3. The bellcrank arm 168 is pivoted at 169 to aclevis 170, connected by screw rod 171 to clevis 172 of a universalcoupling 173, the other clevis 174 ofl which is pivoted at 175 to link417 6, which link is pivoted at 177 to upright rod 34, pivoted-at 35 tothe bed 1. The rear end of link 176 is tapped for the reception of oneend of screw rod 178, the other end of which rod is threaded into clevis179, pivoted at 180 to lever 181, fixed-to shaft 182, journaled inbearing 183, bolted to the rear of frame 3, and in bearing 184, boltedto therear of frame 2.

A lever 185 is fixed to shaft 182 in juxtaposition to the inner side offrame 3. Lever 185 is pivoted at 186 to link 187, pivoted at 188 tobell-crank 189, pivoted at 190 to one end of the brake band 191, and at192 to one end of link 193, the other end of which is pivoted at 194 tothe other end of brake band 191, best shown in Figure 13. Brake band 191encircles brake drum 195, fixed to shaft 42. Band191 is bent upward intoa loop 196, which fits into an aperture 197, in bracket 198, bolted byscrews 199 to the inner side of frame 3. Loop 196 prevents rotation ofband 191 with drum 195.

A cam 200 is keyed at 201 to shaft 42, and is engaged Aby cam roller202, turning on stud 203, bolted to the upper end of arm 204, fixed onshaft 182.

A retractile spring 205, having one end attached to arm 164 ofbell-crank 165 and its other end attached to a post 206, depending fromthe table 53 and suitably attached thereto, normally urges, through thesystem of links, levers and shafts just described, roller 202 towardsthe dotted position shown in Figure 13, tending at the same time torelease brake band 191 from drum 195, to withdraw the end 36 of detent34 from engagement with shoulder 37 of cage 21, and to urge roller 160of arm 157 towards slide 139. When the knives are not being actuated,shaft 42 is stationary, and cam 200 fixed thereto, arm 204 and roller202, occupy the positions indicated in full lines in Figure 13, thebrake band 191, also, being set against the brake drum 195. Detent 35,also, abuts against shgulder 37 and prevents the clutch from seizing tostart the cutting mechanism.

The parts are retained in this position against the tendency of thespring 205 by reason of lug 161 obstructing the movement of roller 160toward the slide 139, when the latter is in the normal position shown in33 Figures 6 and 9.

ivoted at 166 to a A graduated scale 207 is arranged along the outsideof beam (Figures 1, 6, 7,'and 8), for the purpose of setting the timerto cause the actuation of the cutting mechanism at certain predeterminedtime intervals, whereby the length of the severed portions of stock maybe regulated. Juxtaposed to :cale 207 is a pointer 208, fastened byscrews 209 to a bracket 210, secured to the rods 101 of the timercarriage, by means of caps 211, clamped by screws 212 against rods 101,received in grooves 213, in bracket 210. The numbers on the scale 207are such that they indicate directly the length of the stock which willbe produced when the pointer 208 of the timer carriage is set thereto.

The mode of operation of this machine will now be described. Handwheel98 is rotated in the proper direction to cause the timer carriage tomove along the rods 57 until pointer 208 is set to the number on thescale 207 which indicates the desired length of the stock pieces to beproduced. The machine feeding the stock to the cutters, and the driveshaft 7 are started, the cutter rolls 47 and 48 remaining stationaryuntil actuated by the timer. The stock passes between the rolls and onto the conveyor belts 52, and when the front end of the stock 134reaches roller 116, the said roller and frame 111 are swung forwardlyand upwardly, with the consequent rotation of blade 136 and the movementtoward the right of slide 139, be-

cause of the engagement of blade 136 with the beak 149 of pawl 148.Slide 139 in its movement carries with it lug 161, whereby roller 160 ispermitted to move toward the slide 139 under the impulsion of spring205, rocking arm 157, shaft 155, and arm 162, and, through the variousconnections described, releasing brake 195, and withdrawing detent end36 from shoulder 37, causing the clutch to seize and start the cuttingmechanism in the manner hereinbefore described. Cam' roll 202 will,also, have moved to the dotted position indicated in Figure 13. Cutterrolls 47 and 48 continue to rotate until they have completed onerevolution, when they are stopped automatically, as will presentlyappear. Shaft 42 completes one revolution in a counter-clockwisedirection, as viewed in Figure 13, simultaneoulsy with the rotation ofthe cutter rolls 47 and 48, carrying with it cam 200, which cam restorescam roll 202, arm 204, and shaft 182 to the initial position, shown infull lines, before it has completed its revolution. As the rotationcontinues, cam 200 leaves roll 202, by reason of the abrupt depression214 in the contour thereof. The restoration of arm 204 to its -initialposition has resulted, through the system of connections of arm 204 withroller 160,'in the recession of roller 160 from slide 139,*perpositionwith slide 139 under the impulsion is in position to disengage theclutch upon the arrival of shoulder 37 of roller cage 21 at the detentend 36. It will, also,` be observed that the return movement of arm` 204has been accompanied by the setting of the brake 195, so that the brakebegins to act before the cutter rolls have completed their revolution,and thereby gradually check the momentum of the cutting mechanism sothat the same may be brought to rest without undue wear on the rollersand inclines of the clutch.

An' alternative form of timer is exhibited byFigures 16 and 17. Herein,instead of the swinging frame 111 and roller 116, a plurality of vanes215, in the present instance three, are mounted radially from a centralhub 216, fixed to the'shaft 109. The tripper-blade 136 is, also,replaced by three blades 217, alined radially to correspond with thearrangement of the vanes 215. Blades 217 and vanes 215 are held againstundue oscillation, with the lowest vane vertical, in position to beactuated, by reason of spring blade 138 bearing against a face ofequilateral-triangular shaped collar 218. Brush wheels 219 are fixed toshaft 109 and adapted to bear on the belts 52, but being held againstrotation by reason of the pressure of blade spring 138 on a face ofcollar 218.

When the advancing forward end of the stock reaches the depending one ofthe vanes 215, the vanes are rotated, the depending blade 217 rotatingtherewith and moving slide 139 to the right, whereupon the cutting'mechanism is started as heretofore set forth.

The ascent of the depending vane in its forward rotation is accompaniedby the descent of the vane following it, until both vanes lie upon orabove the stock passing thereunder. When the severed stock has passedbeyond the vanes, the rotation is continued by brush' wheels 219, invfrictional engagement with belts 52, free rotation of shaft 109 beingnow unrestrained because blade spring 138 rides on a high corner ofcollar 218. The rotation of vanes 215 continues until spring 138 againrests on a flat portion of collar 218, when the parts are in initialposition preparatory to a repetition of the foregoing operation.

Having thus described this invention, I hereby reserve the benefit ofall changes in form, arrangement, order, or use of parts, as it isevident that many minor changes may be made therein without departingfrom the spirit of this invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim: I

1. A machine of the character described comprising controlledintermittently operable shears adapted to sever a continuously travelinglength of stock fed thereto, a conveyor associated with the shears forcarrying the severed portions, means for driving the shears, means fordriving the conveyor at a speed in excess of the speed at which thestock is fed to the shears to space the end edges of the current stockportions, a clutch for coupling said shear driving means to or'uncoupling it from said shears, trip means for the shears adjustablealong the path of travel of the stock delivered from the shears and amechanical connection from the trip means to the clutch whereby thefrequency of the intervals of actuation of the cutting means isdetermined by the adjusted position of said trip means, the arrangementbeing such that the length of said connection is adjusted automaticallyconcomitantly with the adjustment of the trip means along the path oftravel of the stock delivered from the shears.

2. In a machine of the character described, intermittently operableflying shears adapted to sever a traveling length of stock fed thereto,an eccentric gear for driving said shears, a clutch for operating saidgear, a brake for stopping said shears after a single cycle ofoperation, and means for operating said clutch and brake alternately.

3. In a machine of the character described, an intermittently operableflying cut-ofi' mechanism adapted to sever a traveling length of stockfed thereto, an eccentric gear for driving said mechanism, at a speedvarying at different points in the cycle of movement of said mechanism,a clutch for operating the cut-off mechanism, through said gear, a brakefor stop ing it, means controlled by the movement of) the stock forreleasing the brake and actuating the clutch, and means driven by thecut-off mechanism for releasing the clutch and operating the brake whenthe eccentric gear is in slow speed driving position.

4. In a machine of the character described,

a flying cut-off mechanism for operating at successive -intervals upon atraveling length of stock fed thereto, an eccentric gear for drivingsaid cut-off mechanism at a speed varying at different points in thecycle of movement of said mechanism, a clutch for operating the cut-offmechanism through said gear, a brake Vfor stopping it, means forintermittently releasing the brake and actuating the clutch, and meansdriven by the cut-off mechanism for releasing the clutch and operatingthe brake when the eccentric gear is in slow speed driving position.

5. An apparatus for subdividing transversely into sections a continuousweb of sheet material traveling therethrough, including a flying cut-0Hmechanism, a rotary member for actuating said cut-0H mechanism, gearingfor rotating said member at a speed varying at different points in thecycle of revolution, a conveyor for carrying the material from thecut-off mechanism, a clutch for transmitting power to said gearingindependent of the transmission of power to said conveyor, and a brakeoperating in the nondriving position of the clutch to stop said rotarymember in the slow speed range of the cycle of the latter, whereby theminimum power is required for effecting said stopping.

6. In a machine for subdividing into sections a continuous web of sheetmaterial traveling therethrough, intermittently operable web-cuttingmechanism, an eccentric gear for driving said mechanism, aone-revolution clutch for operating said gear, a shiftable detentforcontrolling the operation of said clutch, a second detent for normallyholding said first detent in clutch-holding position, web-controlledmeans for operating said second detent, and clutch-operated means forreturning said first detent to clutch-holding position after eachmovement therefrom.

7. In a machine for subdividing into sections a continuous web of sheetmaterial travcling therethrough, flying cut-ofi mechanism, a clutch foroperating said mechanism, a shiftable detent for controlling theoperation of said clutch, clutch-operated means for returning saiddetent to clutch-holding position after each movement therefrom, acarriage shiftable along the path of the material that has passed thecut-off mechanism, means for spacing apart the contiguous edges of thedivided material, a rock shaft extending along the path of the carriageand operatively connected to the detent, a second detent borne by thecarriage for normally holding the rock shaft in la position wherein thefirst detent holds said clutch inoperative, and a target trip borne bysaid carriage in the path of said edges and actuated thereby to withdrawsaid second detent from its rockshaft-liolding position.

8. In a machine for successively severing portions from a length ofstock fed thereto, the combination of cutting means; driving meanstherefor; means for connecting and disconnecting the said cutting meansand the said driving means for starting and stopping the said cuttingmeans; a continuously acting brake for steadying the movement of thesaid cutting means; anda second brake applied momentarily to the saidcutting means at the time of stopping the same. v

9. In a machine for successively severing sections from a length ofstock fed thereto, the combination of cutting means, a runway for thestock advancing from the cutting means, guide means extending along therun-- way, a carriage directed by said guide means so as to be shiftablealong the runway, mechanism for operating said cutting means, a shaftcontrolling the operation of the said operating mechanism and extendingalong the runway and tending normally to rotate in one direction, apower-controlling member movable with said carriage along the runway andconnected to said shaft so as to shift with the rotation thereof, andmechanis-m borne by the said carriage for normally restraining the saidpower-controlling member but releasing the same automatically when thestock arrives at a predetermined position on the runway.

10. A machine of the character described comprising controlledcyclically operable flying shears adapted to sever at intervals acontinuously traveling length of stock fed thereto, a rotary member foractuating said shears, gearing for rotating said member at a speedvarying at different points in the cycle of revolution, a conveyorassociated with the shears for carrying the several portions, means fordriving the said gearing, a clutch for connecting said driving means tosaid gearing and disconnecting said driving means from said gearing whenthe rotating member is in the slow speed vphase of its cycle, means fordriving the conveyor at a speed in excess of the speed at which thestock is fed to the shears to space the contiguous edges of the dividedmaterial, trip means for the shears adjustable along the path of travelof the stock delivered from the shears, and a mechanical connection fromthe trip means to the clutch whereby the frequency of the intervals ofactuation of the shears is determined by the adjusted position of saidtrip means, the arrangement being such that the length of saidconnection is adjusted automatically concomitantly with the adjustmentof the trip means along the path of travel of the stock delivered fromthe shears.

11. In a machine forl successively dividing into sections a continuousweb of sheet material traveling therethrough, flying cutting means, arotary member for actuating said cutting means, gearing for rotatingsaid member at a speed varying at different points in the cycle ofrevolution, a clutch for operating said gearing, a shiftable detent forcontrolling the operation of said clutch, clutch-operated means forreturning said detent to clutch-holding position during the slow speedphase ofthe cycle of said member, a carriage shiftable along the path ofthe material that has passed the cutting means, means for spacing apartthe contiguous edges of the divided material, a rock shaft extendingalong the path of the carriage and operatively connected to the detent,a second detent borne by the carriage for normally holding the rockshaft in a position wherein the first detent 8 `resales holds saidclutch inoperative, and a target trip borne by said carriage in the pathof said edges and actuated thereby to withdraw said second detent fromits rock-shaft-holding position.

12. In a machine for successively severing portions from a length ofstock continuously fed thereto, the combination of cutting means, arotary member for actuating said cutting means, means for driving thesaid member at a speed varying at different points in the cycle ofrevolution, means controlled by the movement of the stock for initiatingthe operation of the said driving means during the slow speed phase ofthe cycle of the said member, and a continuously acting brake forsteadying the movement of the said cutting means.

13. In a machine for successively severing portions from a length ofstock continuously fed thereto, the combination of cutting means, arotary member for actuating said cutting means, means for drivin thesaid member at a speed varying at di erent points in the cycle ofrevolution, means for initiating the operation of the said driving meansduring the slow speed phase of the cycle of the said member, acontinuously acting brake for steadying the movement of the said cuttingmeans, and a second brake applied momentarily for stopping the saidcutting means during the slow speed phase of the cycle of the saidmember.

14. In a machine orsuccessively severing sections from a length of stockfed thereto, the combination of cutting means, a rotary member foractuating said cutting means, gearing for rotating said member at aspeed varying at different points in the cycle of revolution, a clutchcontrolling the said gearing during the slow speed phase. of the cycleof said member, a runway for the stock advancing from the cutting means,guide means extendmg along the runway, a carriage directed by said guidemeans so as to be shiftable along the runway, a shaft controlling theoperation of the` said clutch and extending along the runway and tendingnormallyl to rotate in one direction, a power controlling melnbermovable with said carriage along the runway and connected to said shaftso as to shift with the rotation thereof, and mechanism borne by thesaid carriage for normally restraining the said power-controlling memberbut releasing the same automatically when the stock arrives at apredetermined position on the runway.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

WILLIAM MAIER.

